The tragic event which took place in Homs, Syria, deeply shook the nation and aroused strong emotion across the world. The funerals of the victims of the drone attack began this Friday, plunging the loved ones of the missing into deep pain.
From dawn, dozens of relatives gathered in front of the military hospital in Homs, their faces marked by pain and sorrow. Ambulances began transporting the remains of officers and their families to their final resting places, in a sad funeral procession.
Soldiers wearing funeral wreaths preceded the coffins, accompanied by solemn military music. The Minister of Defense, Ali Mahmoud Abbas, who miraculously escaped the attack by leaving the ceremony shortly before, attended the funeral of thirty soldiers and civilians who fell under drone fire. In a moving speech, he recalled that the homeland was more precious than anything, but that the sacrifice of these martyrs would remain forever remembered.
The attack, described as a terrorist act by the Syrian army, left at least 112 dead, including 21 civilians, and more than 120 injured. The attackers, whose identity remains unknown, used drones loaded with explosives to carry out their heinous act. In recent years, jihadist groups have often used this technology to carry out devastating attacks.
In retaliation, government forces launched heavy bombings on the country’s last rebel stronghold in the northwest, causing further civilian casualties. This spiral of violence evokes the urgency of immediate de-escalation, as underlined by the UN envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen. In a statement, he expressed deep concern over the escalation of violence and called on all parties to respect international law and protect civilians.
This tragedy once again raises the question of security and stability in Syria, where the conflict has persisted for many years. It also highlights the need for strengthened international cooperation to fight terrorism and find lasting solutions to this humanitarian crisis.
In this dark time, our thoughts are with the victims and their families, who are going through a painful ordeal. May the funeral offer some semblance of comfort and contemplation, and may the Syrian nation find the strength and resilience to overcome this new ordeal.